Quaternium-79 hydrolyzed silk (inci)

Quaternium (see also Polyquaternium) refers to complex quaternary ammonium compounds. Quaternary ammonium compounds, also called quats, have quaternary nitrogen atoms, i.e. all four hydrogen atoms of the ammonium ion (nitrogen atom) are replaced by organic residues. The compounds are therefore cationic, i.e. they have a positive charge. "hydrolzyed silk" refers to a protein hydrolysate which is obtained from silkworm proteins by controlled enzymatic hydrolysis.

The extract is used in cosmetic formulations. Quaternium-79 hydrolyzed silk acts as an antistatic agent (reduces static electricity by neutralizing the electrical charge on the surface of e.g. hair), moisturizer (preserves the moisture of the skin) and hair conditioner (makes the hair easy to comb, smooth, soft and shiny and gives it volume).